Match Review

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have joined the Sea Eagles on top of the Telstra Premiership table with a 7 point victory at ANZ Stadium in front of 14,921 fans.

Signs looked troubling early for the home side as Dunamis Lui sliced their defence easily on the Sea Eagles first visit to Bulldogs try line. Mid-way through the first half, Manly claimed a 6-0 lead.

The Bulldogs returned served minutes later as Man of the Match James Graham crashed over next to the uprights via a Michael Ennis short pass. Canterbury locked the game up at 6-all after 25 minutes.

Graham led the way for the Bulldogs pack as his 21 runs provided the foundations for fill in halves Tony Williams and Josh Jackson to get things moving in the first half.

Shortly before the break, Krisnan Inu sailed through a crumbling Manly defensive line to extend the Bulldogs lead to a converted try at half time.

The Sea Eagles fired immediately in the second half as Clinton Gutherson powered down the sideline to dive over in the eastern over courtesy of a Brett Stewart pass. Manly trailed by 2 points minutes in the new half, 12-10.

Michael Ennis in the action 10 minutes later as his boot provided points for Corey Thompson to beat Brett Stewart to a bouncing ball. Canterbury extended their lead to 16-10 with Inu's conversion successful.

Mitch Brown did not have a game to remember with several errors costing his team points. None more so in the 66th minute as his fumble gifted Justin Horo Manly's third try. Once again the game locked up, 16-all.

Michael Ennis gave his team a one point lead in the 74th minute after a missed attempt from Krisnan Inu. Brett Stewart attempted to follow Ennis' lead but his strike from just 5 metres failed.

In what ended as controversial circumstances, the video referee awarded Michael Ennis a try in the 79th minute as Tim Browne broke free of wouldbe tacklers to throw a forward pass to his hooker. Canterbury kicked ahead to win the game 23-16 as their fighting spiriting was too much for the visitors.

Next week the Sea Eagles return to Brookvale to host Wests Tigers, meanwhile the Bulldogs will fly south to Melbourne to clash with the Storm.